There was a stabbing at my son's boy scout camp :(

[Kteacher]

This was the news we woke up to this morning My DS16 has been a camp counselor there all summer-yes this is the same kid we call Dangerboy. We haven't been able to reach our son on his cell or anyone in the camp office yet this morning

 

[HERSEY]

You must be frantic I sure hope you hear from your son soon.

 

[tiggger1]

yeah I saw that on the news last night...I hope everything is ok!

 

[Kteacher]

I can't believe I had to do a search online to get information! This happened yesterday, and we weren't notified by anyone from the camp . We live about 1 1/2 hours south of the camp, so our local news wasn't showing the story. We're still getting just an answering machine in the camp office.

 

[tiggger1]

where is the camp? I saw it on the 10 Oclock news last night. Dont remember what station though...

 

[Kteacher]

Dublin, NH . As soon as I saw the Boy Scout insignia with the heading " stabbing at camp in NH " all I could think was that it was dangerboy who got stabbed- he's the type of kid that if something's going to happen, it will happen to him. I really was panic stricken, especially since I wasn't able to get through to anyone at the camp. After I got over the initial shock, I realized that they would have to contact the parents if they were transporting him to a hospital for treatment. I am so sorry for the parents that are going through this. I have been in emergency rooms with dangerboy too many times to remember and a trauma center once ( hope to never have to do that again ) to know what a horrible experience it is to see your child in pain . Still not able to get anyone on the phone at the camp, but DH is leaving soon to drive up to get him -today is the last day of camp for the season.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Oh how sad. I'm sure if it were your son someone would have notified you. Stay strong and I hope he calls you soon.

 

[paigevz]

Wow! What news.................how unexpected. Snake bites and drownings, okay I can see that. Even a bear encounter, but a stabbing?

 

[Kteacher]

Dangerboy just got home. Evidently the kids involved were from one troop from Ma. One kid had been getting picked on all week by the other kids in the troop, and finally had enough of being bullied. What burns me is that the troop leaders were with this troop - why weren't they doing something about the bullying?????? Dangerboy is fine-he wasn't near where this troop was when it happened. I think he's a little shaken up from the whole experience. There were news helicopters circling over the camp, which he said was wierd, and lots of state troopers. I'm glad he's home!

 

[paigevz]

So glad your "dangerboy" wasn't in danger. I feel for the other kids involved. What a traumatic ending to what should be a fun time.

 

[Carl]

Bullies never seem to learn until something like that (or worse) happens.

 

[geffric]

I am glad that your son is safe. Hope that the Troop takes action to prevent this type of thing from happening again as it is tramantic for all at camp.

 

[grlpwrd]

How scary!

In Virginia there was a crisis at a Girl Scout camp because of exposure to bats which could carry rabies. Along the lines of where the adults are in this boy scout situation, I am wondering how safety precautions weren't in place -these were at scouting camps.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I'm glad that "Dangerboy" returned home safely.

Here's an article on the stabbing from the NH paper (The Union Leader). The good news is it sounds like the boy who was stabbed will be ok

Dublin – A 14-year-old Massachusetts Boy Scout is in stable condition after being stabbed in the chest yesterday morning at a New Hampshire camp.

State Police are investigating the boy's stabbing, which was allegedly committed by another 14-year-old in the same troop, at Camp Wanocksett, police said.

Camp Wanocksett, which is on Thorndike Pond near Mount Monadnock, is a nationally accredited 250-acre facility established in 1924 and run by the Nashua Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Lancaster, Mass.

The victim, who was stabbed in the chest at about 7:15 a.m., was initially treated on site, then transported to Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough and then flown to Boston Medical Center.

In Boston, the victim underwent successful surgery and should be allowed to return home in two or three days, said New Hampshire State Police Sgt. David Griffin, who is investigating the incident.

Police are not releasing the names of those involved and what town they are from.

The boy who allegedly did the stabbing has not been charged with any crime and returned home with his parents yesterday, Griffin said. An investigation will determine if charges will be brought against him.

Police are still investigating where he got the knife used in the stabbing, although scouts are allowed to carry certain knives as camping equipment, Griffin said. Police were not able to inspect the knife used in the stabbing because it was embedded in the boy's chest when he was transported for medical treatment.

The investigation will also determine if the stabbing was accidental or intentional. According to Griffin, it appears that three campers got involved in a scuffle outside of a tent that may have escalated prior to the stabbing. Police interviewed approximately 24 campers yesterday as part of the investigation.

Griffin praised the camp and its leadership for responding appropriately to the stabbing and fully cooperating with the investigation while continuing its regular camp activities.

He added that in his 18 years of service, police have never had to respond to the camp for any such incident.

Camp program director Daniel Megan said the scouts' safety is a top priority and that camp's staff includes a registered nurse and paramedic. No other campers were pulled from the camp by their parents early in response to the stabbing.

Two hundred boy scouts ages 11 to 17 attended a week-long session at the camp and will return home today, Megan said. Approximately 1,200 scouts attended the camp this summer.

 

[Kteacher]

thanks for the article. Interestingly , the article states that no other campers were pulled from the camp early- my son told me that 80 campers were picked up yesterday instead of today. It was such a shame to end the camp season this way.

 

[allison443]

I can't believe I had to do a search online to get information! This happened yesterday, and we weren't notified by anyone from the camp . We live about 1 1/2 hours south of the camp, so our local news wasn't showing the story. We're still getting just an answering machine in the camp office.

Even if the camp couldn't notify all the parents, I think they should AT LEAST have had someone in the camp office so parents could get information on their kids. If the incident was reported on the news, they had to know parents would be worried and calling the camp...To reach only an answering machine is not acceptable, in my opinion.
Glad your son is okay!

 

[tkd lisa]

How scary!

In Virginia there was a crisis at a Girl Scout camp because of exposure to bats which could carry rabies. Along the lines of where the adults are in this boy scout situation, I am wondering how safety precautions weren't in place -these were at scouting camps.

Actually, my daughter was at that GS camp (if it's the one I'm thinking of). The one where the girl got stuck in a cave? In fact, she was IN the group. Luckily, it didn't make the news in FL, so I didn't hear about it until she got home. Bottom line in that case?

The girl had disobeyed the counselor (after being warned several times to stay with the group) and went where the counselor SAID not to go. She was stuck about 15 feet down (not the 300 mentioned in the article), and there was no evidence of bats, just the fact it was a cave. So the precautions were in place at the GS camp, the camper just thought she was above the rules.